Japanese equivalent of Colnago/Cinelli/Masi quality-status-pedigree
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Japanese equivalent of Colnago/Cinelli/Masi quality-status-pedigree
This is a question that only BF-CV can answer.
Allow me to indulge myself with an explanation:
Like many on this forum, I finally decided to buy the bikes I could not afford when I was younger. Quite obviously Colnago with Campagnolo, Masi, deRosa, etc. etc. all with Campagnolo. .....Then one day, I bought a mid-level Japanese bike with Suntour components, and I was ==shocked== at how good it is.
Therefore, because the summation of bicycles (N+1) approaches, but never actually reaches infinity, I have decided to buy another Japanese bike.
Which brings about the aforementioned request:
What are the boutique, with matching quality, Japanese brands? (I consider 3 Rensho to be a copy of European, but am willing to be corrected )
At one time I had a Nishiki International, with Suntour bar end shifters, that was incredibly high quality. What else is out there? Reading threads here I have been fascinated by some of the Suntour products, moreso than Shimano. (especially Suntour Ole)
So what is cool? I know you know!
Allow me to indulge myself with an explanation:
Like many on this forum, I finally decided to buy the bikes I could not afford when I was younger. Quite obviously Colnago with Campagnolo, Masi, deRosa, etc. etc. all with Campagnolo. .....Then one day, I bought a mid-level Japanese bike with Suntour components, and I was ==shocked== at how good it is.
Therefore, because the summation of bicycles (N+1) approaches, but never actually reaches infinity, I have decided to buy another Japanese bike.
Which brings about the aforementioned request:
What are the boutique, with matching quality, Japanese brands? (I consider 3 Rensho to be a copy of European, but am willing to be corrected )
At one time I had a Nishiki International, with Suntour bar end shifters, that was incredibly high quality. What else is out there? Reading threads here I have been fascinated by some of the Suntour products, moreso than Shimano. (especially Suntour Ole)
So what is cool? I know you know!
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Hard for me to say. That’s why I built my bike with the best of both worlds: A Cinelli frame dripping with Dura Ace parts. Not sure a Japanese frame can compete with the Supercorsa. But there are some Japanese ones I wouldn’t sneeze at.
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I'm very partial to this Nagasawa (not mine)...
That said, my '77 Nishiki ONP (Suntour Superbe) is a very pleasing ride - smooth, agile, and fun...
That said, my '77 Nishiki ONP (Suntour Superbe) is a very pleasing ride - smooth, agile, and fun...
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not boutique but the top level bikes of big manufactures can be right up there. Team Miyata as an example
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(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
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Buy a Toei
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Toei
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#12
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The best bikes I have seen by Japanese makers are by Zunow, and by companies like M Idea. There are numerous small makers who make wonderful bikes as well. I recently looked at a Zunow touring frame which had Nervex lugs and Reynolds 531 tubes, and braze-ons for everything, including a drag brake. It was a work of art, and I would have bought it if I had a place to put it.
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Thanks to y'all, I have now discovered "velocraft.jp", and the book called "Japanese Steel, the art and design"
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If we're honest there are and have been many Japanese bikes and frames that are very high quality, status and pedigree are subjective as they come with entrenched tradition that Japan did not have like Europe, Italy, etc.
Then factor in that manufacturing in Japan was very crude for far longer than them as well. That said they made up for lost time in record time once they got rolling.
All the high end names listed already are fantastic and well deserve any and all consideration they get.
I would also add that while not often talked about in the same discussion as them there are many "regular" Japanese marques that built and made many extremely high quality bikes and frames as well, Panasonic, Nishiki, Miyata and many others produced plenty of elite frames and huge numbers of very high quality production bikes and frames that were fantastic quality and riding machines.
Then factor in that manufacturing in Japan was very crude for far longer than them as well. That said they made up for lost time in record time once they got rolling.
All the high end names listed already are fantastic and well deserve any and all consideration they get.
I would also add that while not often talked about in the same discussion as them there are many "regular" Japanese marques that built and made many extremely high quality bikes and frames as well, Panasonic, Nishiki, Miyata and many others produced plenty of elite frames and huge numbers of very high quality production bikes and frames that were fantastic quality and riding machines.
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I would also add that while not often talked about in the same discussion as them there are many "regular" Japanese marques that built and made many extremely high quality bikes and frames as well, Panasonic, Nishiki, Miyata and many others produced plenty of elite frames and huge numbers of very high quality production bikes and frames that were fantastic quality and riding machines.
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I can only say that my Zunow was superb. I ran it with an Ultegra 105 mix.
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i have yet to see a badly made bike of a japanese Keirin approved shop. I do have seen bad Colnagos, though
Not sure if Zunow is up with the very top although i own one myself, i'd swap with Kalavinka. Bridgestone and Panasonic are often undervalued.
Not sure if Zunow is up with the very top although i own one myself, i'd swap with Kalavinka. Bridgestone and Panasonic are often undervalued.
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I keep thinking of that 'Ebisu'? from @since6. What a special bike that was/is. Of course I can't find it online...perhaps it's not Ebisu but similar.
Never mind, it's an Erba, made by H Hagiwara. Just wow.
Never mind, it's an Erba, made by H Hagiwara. Just wow.
Last edited by clubman; 08-31-22 at 05:24 PM.
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The photographer is a member here. Paging ScottRyder
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This is a question that only BF-CV can answer.
Allow me to indulge myself with an explanation:
Like many on this forum, I finally decided to buy the bikes I could not afford when I was younger. Quite obviously Colnago with Campagnolo, Masi, deRosa, etc. etc. all with Campagnolo. .....Then one day, I bought a mid-level Japanese bike with Suntour components, and I was ==shocked== at how good it is.
Therefore, because the summation of bicycles (N+1) approaches, but never actually reaches infinity, I have decided to buy another Japanese bike.
Which brings about the aforementioned request:
What are the boutique, with matching quality, Japanese brands? (I consider 3 Rensho to be a copy of European, but am willing to be corrected )
At one time I had a Nishiki International, with Suntour bar end shifters, that was incredibly high quality. What else is out there? Reading threads here I have been fascinated by some of the Suntour products, moreso than Shimano. (especially Suntour Ole)
So what is cool? I know you know!
Allow me to indulge myself with an explanation:
Like many on this forum, I finally decided to buy the bikes I could not afford when I was younger. Quite obviously Colnago with Campagnolo, Masi, deRosa, etc. etc. all with Campagnolo. .....Then one day, I bought a mid-level Japanese bike with Suntour components, and I was ==shocked== at how good it is.
Therefore, because the summation of bicycles (N+1) approaches, but never actually reaches infinity, I have decided to buy another Japanese bike.
Which brings about the aforementioned request:
What are the boutique, with matching quality, Japanese brands? (I consider 3 Rensho to be a copy of European, but am willing to be corrected )
At one time I had a Nishiki International, with Suntour bar end shifters, that was incredibly high quality. What else is out there? Reading threads here I have been fascinated by some of the Suntour products, moreso than Shimano. (especially Suntour Ole)
So what is cool? I know you know!
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I vote for 3 Rensho!
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72 Line Seeker
83 Davidson Signature
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84 Gitane Tour de France.
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86 ALAN Record Carbonio
86 Medici Aerodynamic (Project)
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Kinda grubby, and likely overpriced, but there is a very colorful Zunow available on my local FB Marketplace.https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...a-84b8191bc909
Last edited by cb400bill; 10-12-22 at 01:37 PM.